Claudio Ranieri hails Monaco character

Monaco coach Claudio Ranieri has insisted that his side's battling display against Saint-Etienne at the weekend proved that they have the stomach for a sustained title challenge this season.

Ranieri's troops left it late at Saint-Etienne but maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-1 victory, thanks to a winner three minutes from time smashed home by Lucas Ocampos.

He told Ligue 1's official website: "Character and personality are important. My players showed both at the end of the match.

"The start of the second half wasn't good from us. My team has a lot of quality but quality alone is not enough. I saw a lot of mistakes being made. James Rodriguez? I've been hard on him.

"I spoke to him and told him he's a champion and I believe in him. He produced two assists and played well."

The last-gasp win over ASSE means that Monaco remain top of Ligue 1 heading into the international break on goal difference ahead of defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.